💸 The Money You Don’t See: Why Your First Dollars Are Worth More Than You Think

At your age, a few dollars might not feel like much. You earn a bit, spend a bit, and tell yourself: “I’ll start saving when I have a real salary.”

But what you don’t see is the incredible power those early dollars can have… if they’re given time.

🧠 Compound Interest: Your Silent Ally

Compound interest is like a snowball — the longer it rolls, the bigger it gets.
It’s not just a poetic image. It’s a mathematical formula that rewards patience.

👉 A simple example:

• You invest $100 at age 20 with an average annual return of 8% (a commonly used assumption to illustrate long-term market growth).

• By age 65, that $100 could be worth about $2,000.

• If you invest that same $100 at age 30, it would grow to only about $1,000 by age 65.

• Same investment. Same return. Just 10 fewer years.
  (Note: Returns can vary and are not guaranteed.)

The only difference? Time. And at your age, time is your greatest asset.

🏁 Why Starting Young Is a Superpower

When you’re young:

• You have more time for your investments to grow.

• You can take more calculated risks, because you have time to recover from market fluctuations.

• You can build solid financial habits while your expenses are still relatively low.

Even $20 a month can make a dramatic difference if you start early.
At the beginning, it’s not the amount that matters — it’s the habit.

🔍 What You Don’t See… Is Still Working for You

Money invested in a registered account (like a TFSA or RESP, depending on your situation) doesn’t just sit there — it quietly works for you every day, every month, every year.

And the longer you let it work, the more it becomes your most loyal employee.
You don’t have to lift a finger — the power of compounding does the work for you.

📉 Waiting Can Cost You More Than You Think

You might think:
“I’ll start at 30. I’ll be earning more, so I’ll be able to save more.”

That may be true…
But you’ll have to invest much more to get the same outcome.

An example?

To have $100,000 by age 65:

• You’d need to invest around $50/month starting at 20,

• Or about $120/month starting at 30,

• Or close to $270/month starting at 40.

See? Time really is money.

🛠 How to Start — Even If You Don’t Have Much

1. Learn about the different types of accounts available. You don’t need a lot to get started.

2. Set aside a fixed amount each month. It’s the routine that matters most.

3. There are simple tools available to help you begin exploring the world of investing. Take the time to learn, or speak with a registered financial professional if you’d like to go further.

🎯 Final Thought

It’s not your income that makes you an investor — it’s your consistency.

And the earlier you start, the more you can afford to be slow, steady, and patient.
Your first dollars aren’t “nothing” — they’re the seeds of a tree that will bear fruit in 20 or 30 years.

So you don’t need to wait until you feel “ready.”
You can start small. You can start now.
And let time do what it does best.